Cong slams SP for comments on Sonia

Lucknow, June 13: The Congress today flayed the ruling Samajwadi Party for its comments on party president Sonia Gandhi, saying such references could be considered a criminal offence.

Talking to reporters here, AICC secretary in charge of UP affairs Pravin Rajpal said the comments by senior SP leaders at a government function were not in good taste. ''There could also be an FIR on this.'' He alleged that recently, Ms Gandhi was referred to as 'Italian rani'. ''She is an Indian citizen and also a woman...such references are not in good taste. We are political rivals, therefore, we must desist from making such observations,'' he maintained.

Mr Rajpal claimed Congress leaders always addressed SP supremo and chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and party general secretary Amar Singh with due respect and they expected the same kind of courtesy from them.

UNI